Record tray or container



Jam 12 1926, 31,569,575

J. H. RAND JR, ET AL RECORD TRAY OR CONTAINER Filed Feb. 2, 1924 2Sheets-Sheet l Jan 112 9 1926., 15%29575 .J. H. RAND, JR, ET AL RECORDTRAY OR CONTAINER Filed Feb. 2. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 32 5f 5/ 3 3a 2 c32 rid wall.

Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

JAMES H. RAND, JR, or TONAWANDA,

' YORK;

SAID 'BROECK'ER ASSIGNOB,

AND LOUIS C. BROECKER, Oi BUFFALO, NEW

TO SAID RAND, JR.

RECORD TRAY OB CONTAINER. I

Application filed February 2, 1924. Serial No; 690,233.

To all 'wlao mv it may concern.

. Be it known that we, James H. RAND, J12, and LOUIS C. BnoEc-Knn,citizens of the .United States, residing at Tonawanda and Buffalo,respectively, in the county of Erie and State ofNew York, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Record Trays or Containers,-of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in trays, slides or devicesadapted to support or contain index cards, card-holders or otherrecord-bearing matter. Moretparticua larly the invention relates todevices ofthis character which are formed of sheet metal. The cards orcard-holders are sometimes provided with flaps or tongues whereby anedge of one card or holder may be inserted beneath the flap or tongue ofan adjacent 29 ,card or holder to maintain them in overlapping,nested-arrangement with their free edges exposed or projecting onebeyond another. Some of the trays or supports have here tofore. beenprovided having a back or bottom part on which the record-bearing cardsor matter are adapted to rest, and side flanges or parts adaplciltoengage ears or side portions on the cards for retaining 30 them intheiroverlapping, nested arrangement and permitting sliding movement thereofon the tray, while preventing their transverse movement or displacement;Followers or members are also used which are adapted to engage oneor-more of the cards or holders for holding them in roper position andnested relation longitu inally of the tray. These followers are usuallyarranged adjacent one end, for instance the 49 front end, of thetray,,an(l are a-da'ted to compress the nested cards so that tiey areforced towards the opposite or rear end 0 the tray, the last card orcard-holder at such end being in engagement with a art of the tray such.for example, as the xed In some cases out or flanged to overhang the endof the last card, to prevent this edge from buckling to an extent. whichwould cause the parts 9 of the card or holder to become detached fromengagement with the side flanges of the tray, and also to preventunintentional or unauthorized removal of the cards, while in operativeposition. This arrangement,

however, is objectionable for the reason that plates,

this end wall is the sharp bent-over edge of the back wall tends tocrease or damage adjacent cards when such cards are swung to exhibittheir under faces. v 4

Trays or supports of this sort have also been provided with 1 hingedcover plates swinging on relatively fixed pivots or parts at the rearend of the tray and adapted to lie on the upper face of the rear or lastcard of the series to'cover and protect the exposed record matterthereon. These cover as at present provided, are usually in the form ofthin, fiat sheets of metal or other suitable material, and it has beenfound that, owing to the fact that such plates bear overtheir'entiresurface on the card or cards therebeneath, a relativelygreat amount of friction and wear is presout when the cards are raisedor lowered in use, due to the relative movements between the cover plateand the cards, resulting in an amount of wear-sufiicient to destroy ordeface the record matter and render the card useless. I One of theobjects of the present invention-is to provide a tray or support of thischaracter with improvements. includin "'a removable back stop orretaining mem er having a part adapted to overhang and retain the edgeor edges of the card or cards at that end of the tray opposite to the.followerto prevent access to or manipulation of suchedges while thefollower is m? operative position.

Another object is to provide an improved J cover plate of the sortmentioned, whichlis also adapted to be readily applied to or removedfrom the tray, and which is con"-' structed so as to assist inmaintaining tho-z cards in proper position'in the tray or con- '85'tainer by itsweight, while nevertheless be be readily moved with or ingadapted to with by the cards when the cards are in use, the minimum offrictional contact.

Still another object is to provide a. com bined removable back stop andcover plate having interengaging parts adapted to maintain said backstop andv cover plate in proper operative position on't-he tray, saidparts being adapted to permit the cover 1( plate to move relatively tothe back stop member without marring or injuring the finish. thereon andwhich will reduce the friction between these parts to a minimum.

Another object is to arrange the card- 1 will be distributed through arelatively member to assist ing one of the great number of thesuperimposed cards and thereby form a secondary compression inmaintaining the cards within their intended limits on the tray. Otherobjects of the invention vare to improve e'ard index trays or devices inthe other respects hereinafter claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a. card tray orslide provided with the improve-. ments embodied in this invention.,Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional tion thereof on line 2+2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view partly elevain section on anenlarged'scale, showing a cover plate adapted for use with cards of adifferent size to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4: is an enlargedtransverse section of the tray or slide on line H, Fig. 1, showing theback stop and cover plate.

Fig. a similar view of the'tray on line 5-5, Fig. 6, with the back stopand cover plate removed.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the rear end of the tray as arrangedin a cabinet.

Fig. ing the action ad'acent cards are lifted'to beiieath. v

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of one side of thetray showapertures in which the cover plate'is journalled.

7 is a similar view of thetray, showof the cover plate when the exposethe cards Fig. 9 is a similar view of the back stop detached.

In the drawings, a shown which includes, a tion A, side walls B, flangesC spaced side. walls B by or treeedges of the from the back porliouA ofthe tray so as to'perinit the insertion therebeneath of the tongues orportions D on the cards or holders E, whereby, the cards are maintainedin sliding engagement with the tray. The;tray is also provided with arear wall B- prefer card index tray is bottom or back porably formed ofa separate. sheet metal having'a bottom flange 1) stamping and adaptingit to be secured, asby spot welding, to the rear, of the back orbottom'A of the tray. 'Th trays are usually provided with a hinged'orpivoted tail piece, as at A, adapting the trays when used in a cabinetto be pulled out of the cabinet to ex pose their contents, while thetail piece will engage a part at the front of the cabinet to prevent thedisengagement of the tray from the cabinet. The tail piece is preferablybetween the flange one edge, whereby 'card to-maintain them in specifiedand or projecting'one beyond another,

. in Figs. I and 2.

index f follower is adapted ers have more or and overhanging from andconnected to the a top flange 0. The lower flanges C are spaced leasethe card. holders,

'ment is given to the hinged as at a to'lugs (1, extending rearwar'dlybeyond the rear wall B ofvtlie tray, the lugs being preferably securedto the tray 1) and the bottom A.

E are prefer-' portions F at The card or card-holders ably provided withflaps or be inserted beneath thefiap of an adjacent overlapping nestedarrangement, with their free edges exposed as shown A follower orprimary compression memher, see Fig. 2, compris ng a card-engaging plateG and an operating part or stem 9 adapted to engage a fixed part of thetray in engagement with one to hold the part G or more of the cards, ispreferably arranged as shown, at the front end of thetray, so that thepart G is engaged underthe flap F of thelast card at that end of thetray. The to compress the nested cards and force them towards theopposite end of thevtray or-towards the rear wall B to maintain them inthe desired overlapping arrangement. For this purpose the stem g extendso'ut through a hole in the front wall of the tray, and is" provided witha notcl1.g"engageable over'th'e edge of the wall at said opening. Thecard holdless natural elasticity, and when not engaged by tend to spreadapart slightly and therefore occupy more space lengthwise of the traythan when forcibly held in interlocking, nested position. The distancebetween the card holder engaging edge-of theplate G' and the notchin'thestem 9 is such that considerable pressure must be applied against theend of the stem to compress the card holders towards the rearwall of thetray before the notch can be engaged with the'tray wall. After this isdone, the stem will be maintained in locking engagement withthe trayby'the outward pressure or resistanceolfered hy'thc holders,- To reanupward moveouter end of the-stem to release the notch from the frontwall, whereupon the cards will separate slightly and force the followerortwardly until the.

holders assume their loose or released position.

A'follower or member of any other form, adapted to the purpose st ated,may be used. The tray, as above described, is of known form, andof'itself forms-no part of the present invention. Any other trayofsuitable form maybe used.

The invention contemplates'the provi& sion of a back stop or memberpreferably arranged at the rear of the tray against which the rearmostof the series of cards, compressed by the follower G, may abut, saidback stop being releasably maintained on the trayand having a partadapted to the follower plate G,

an edge of one card may tom A of the tray.

sis

free edge of the ers.

The back stop shown in the drawings comprises a member 20 having a-topplate or portion 21 a depending rear flange or part 22 and an integralrearwardly directed,

substantially V-shaped recessed part 23 ex- I tending from and beneaththe front edge of the plate 21. The back stop is arranged transverselyon the tray between the flanges C, with the recess 23 disposed so as to're-. ceive the back edge of the rear card, which will be forced snuglyinto the bottom thereof by the pressure ofthe follower G. The upperportion of the part 23 thus overhangs the edge of the card and preventsthe re- -inoval of thisand' adjacent cards while they are in operativeposition, and at the same time presents no abruptor sharp edge to wearthe card or holders. Means are provided for releasably maintaining theback stop 20 in operative-position. on the tray. In the drawings, theback stop is positioned 'with its rear depending flange'22 abutting wallBf-of the tray, the flange preferably being in engagement with thebottom flange b of the wall, while the lower edge 24 of the recessedpart 23 engages one or more fixed lugs or parts 25 extending upwardlyfrom the bot- These lugs 25 prevent movement of the back stop away fromthe rear wall B, while nevertheless permitting the ready insertion andremoval thereof against the rear from the tray, whichinay beaccomplished by grasping the back stop atthe front of the upper plateportion 21 and tilting the back stop so as to disengage the edge 24 fromthe lugs 25. Any other suitable means may be provided for releasablyholding the back stop in contact with the back wall of the tray.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the body portions of the cards orholders E,

in their nested and overlapping position,

form a relatively thick pack, the upper face the free edges of thecards, is adjacent the plane of the tops 0 of the side walls B of thetray,.while the face of the rear card is exposed. Some of these cards,in use, become slightly buckled or warped and tend to increase thethickness of the pack to an extent sufficient to cause the top face ofthe pack or portion thereof to extend above the top of the side walls,and when the tray is used in a cabinet and otherwise, this increasedthickness is very undesirable, as the cards would rub against thepartitions or other parts of the cabinet with resultant wear anddefacement. To eliminate thisfiand to prevent wear andv defacement ofthe record matter on the exposed rear card, a top plate or member isprovided having improved means for securmg it on the tray-and formaintaining the thickness of the pack of cards and holding themcompressed within the desired limits, and protecting the record matter,on the rear card while nevertheless being adapted toswing freely on thetray to permit the cards to be manipulated, as desired.

The cover plate, which also serves tocompress the cards or holders, ispreferably constructed and mounted as shown in the drawin'gs andcomprises 30 ofapproximately the size of the card or holder used in thetray and adapted to 6X- tend over and conceal the record matter on therear card, leaving only the free edge of this card exposed.

a plate or body portion The back edge of the plate 30 is preferably bentor.rolled to form journal portion 31, the

a tubular bearing or opposite ends of which extend beyond the side edgesof the plate 30 and form bearing pintles or journals 32. Thecardengaging flanges C are recessed as shown at for the reception of theournals 32 which are adapted to seat inthe closed ends of the recesses,these being positioned so as to permit the cover plate to liesubstantially parallel withand slightly below the top edges of the tray,see Fig. 2. The cover plate journals are conveniently maintaine inoperative position in the recesses by any suitable means, butpreferably, as in the construction shown, by a part or parts of the backstop 20. The cover plate may be inserted in the tray by extending thebearing portion 31 diagonally across the tray so as to bring the pintles32 beneath the flan es C, after whichthe plate may be straightened tobring the pintles into register with the recesses 33. The back stop isthen slipped into position beneath the-bearing portion 31, thus forcingtliepintles 32 into the inner ends of'the recesses. The top flange .21of the back stop is'pi'eferablyformed the case if the ournal port-ioncontacted throughout itslength with the backstop. The described locationof the cover plate journal also materially assists in maintain ing theback stop in posit-ion on the tray as no upward movement thereof ispossible owing to, the engagement of the pintles 32 with the inner endsof the recesses 33, nevertheless the back stop and cover plate areeasily inserted or removed as desired.

There is thus provided a combined detachis not marred, as would be fromthe tray, when positively able back stop' and cover plate, which arereadily applied to or removed desired but which are maintained inoperative position without danger of becoming accidentally detached ordisplaced when the tray is in use. I

The cover plate 30 is formed with a part,

preferablyhi the shape ofa transverse bead or depression 36 adjacent itsfree edge, as shown, which bead is adaptedv to contact with the outerend ofthe last card at a point such that the weight of the-plate isdistrib uted through the pack of-cards to hold them compressed withinthe desired limits, at the same time the bead forms an antifrictionalcontact with the card to prevent the body of the cover platefromengaging and rubbing the surface of the card and defacing therecordmatter thereon.

The cards may be readily lifted, as shown in Fig.- 7 the bead 36 slidingfreely on the card with the minimum of friction. To facilitate liftingthe cover plate to permit an examination of the date on the cardbeneath, the free edge of the cover plate is inclined as at 37 so thatit is out of contact with the edges of adjacent cards thereby allowingits ready manipulation.

If desired, the top edge of the back wall of the tray may be flanged asshown at 38 to form a rest moved to the position in Fig. 7 sothat-therear faces of the cards may be viewed'and entries made thereon,

if desired.

readily interchangeable.

The described construction of the cover plate makes it possible'to adaptthese plates to cards of varying lengths, as shown in full and dottedlines in Fig. 3, as cover plates are \Vhere it is desired to insertcards of greater or less length on a given tray, a cover platecorresponding in-length to the length of card used is selected, thusproviding adequate protectionfor the record matter on the exposed lastcard, regardless of the size of card used.

We claim as our invention 1. In a record device adapted to support aseries of record-bearing members in predetermined arrangement, thecombination of a part providing a support for said recordbearingmembers, means for engaging one end of said series of'record-bearingmembers for limiting movement of saidrtzord-bearing members in onedirection on said support, said means being removably mounted on saidsupport, and movable means for applying pressure to the .oppositeend ofsaid series of record-bearing members.

2. A record device having a part for supportigng1 a series ofrecord-bearing members in pre etermined overlapping relationsubstantially parallel with said supporting part,

both of .part providing a for the cover plate when, shown in-brokenlines means for engaging one end of said series of record-bearingmembers for limiting movement of said record-bearing members in onedirection on said support,'said means being removably mounted on saidsupport, and movable means for applying pressure to the opposite end ofsaid series of record-' bearing members. I

3. In a record device adapted to support a series of record-bearingmembers in predetermined arrangement, the combination of a support forsaid recordbearing members, means for engaging one end of said series ofrecord-bearing members for limiting movement of saidrecord-bearingmembers in one direction on said support, said means beingremovably mounted on said support and having apart adapted to overhang aportion of one of said record- -receiving members whereby saidrecordreceiving member is maintained against unintentional removal fromsaid supporting I part, and movable means for applying pressure to theopposite end of said series of record-bearing members.

' 4. In a record device, a record-supporting part for maintaining aseries of recordreceiving members in predetermined arrangementsubstantially parallel to said supporting part, a stop member forengaging one 0 said record-receiving members to limit movement of saidrecord-receiving members in one direction on said supporting part, aplate member adapted to cover-the record-receivin portion of saidrecordreceiving mem er, said stop memberfiand said plate member beingdetachably -mounted on said support, and means for applying pressure tosaid series of record-receiving members to hold said record-receivingmembers against said stop member.

5. In a device of the character described,

means for supporting a plurality of recordreceiving members inpredetermined overlapping relation, and a metal guard plate for coveringthe record-receiving portionof the uppermost of said record-receivingmem bers, and said guard plate on said device.

6. In a record device adapted to support a series'of record-bearingmembers in predetermined arrangement, the con'lbination of a partproviding a bearing members, 1neans for engaging one end of said seriesof record-bearin g members for limiting movement of said record-bear ingmembers in-one direction on said support, said means being removablymounted on said support and having a part into which a portion of one ofsaid record-receiving members may enter, and movable means forcompressing said series of record-receiving members, whereby saidrecord-receiving member is held against said part on said removablymounted means, so that said recmeans for detachably mounting support forsaid recordweaere ord-receiving member is maintained againstunintentional removal from said supporting part.- p

7. ln a record device adapted to support a series of record-bearingmembers in predetermined arrangement, the combination of a partproviding a support for said record-bearing members, means for engagingone end of said series of record-bearing members for limiting movementof said record-bearing members in one direction on said support, saidmeans being removably mounted on said support, movable means forapplying pressure to the opposite end of said series of record-bearingmembers, and means on said support for en aging said removably mountedmeans, w ereby said removably mounted means is maintained in operativeposition on said record,

device.

8. In a record device, a recordsupporting )Hlll for maintaining a seriesof record-receiving members in predetermined arrangement substantiallyparallel to said supporting part, a stop member i'or engaging pne ofsaid record-receiving members to: limit movement of saidrecord-receiving members in one direction on said supporting part, aplate member adapted to cover the recordreceiving portion of saidrecord-receiving member, said stop member and said plate member beingdetachably mounted on said 'support, and means for applying pressure tosaid series of record-receiving members to hold said record-receivingmembers againstsaid stop member, said stop mem her having means forengaging said plate member and releasably maintaining said plate memberon said supporting part.

5). In a record device, a record-supporting part or maintaining a seriesof recordreceiving members in predetermined relation substantiallyparallel to said supporting part, a stop member detachably mounted onsaid record device for engaging one end of said series'to limit movementthereof inone direction, a movable primary compression member adapted toengage the opposite end of said series to limit the movement thereof inthe opposite direction, and a secondary compression member detachablymounted on said record device and having a part adapted to normallyengage and compress said series of recordq'eceiving members in adirection substantially perpendicular to the direction of compression ofsaid primary compression member.

1%. In a record device, ng part for maintaining a 'series of record-.reeeiving members in predetermined relation substantially parallel tosaid supporting part, and having means at opposite sides thereof forlimiting movement of said series transversely of said supporting part,

i a stop member detachably mounted on said a record-support- I orddevice for normally compressing said series of record-receiving membersin a direction substantially perpendicular to said supporting part. 11.In a record device, a record-supporting part for maintaining a series ofrecord- 'receiving members in predetermined relation substantiallyparallel to said supporting part, and having means at opposite sidesthereof for limiting movement of said series transversely of saidsupporting part, a stop member detachably mounted on said record device,a movable compression member on said record device, said stop member andsaid compression member being adapted to respectively engage oppositeends of said series of record-receiving members to limit movements ofsaid series in opposite directions longitudinally of said supportingpart, and means detachablymounted on 'saidrecord device for normallycompressing said series of record-receiving members in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to said supporting part, and saidcompression means being adapted to cover and protect therecord-receiving portion of one of said record-receiving members.

12. In a record device, a record-support ing part for maintaining aseries of recordreeeiving members in predetermined relationsubstantially parallel to said supporting part, and having means atoppositesi'des thereol" lor limiting movement of said seriestransversely of said supporting part, a stop niember detachably mountedon said record device, a movable compression member on said recorddevice, said stop member and said compression member being adapted torespectively engage opposite ends of said series of record-receivingmembers to limit movements of said series in opposite directionslongitudinally of said supporting part, and a plate member detachablymounted on said record device adapted to cover and protect therecord-receiving portion of one of said record-receiving members, saidplate member having a part adapted to engage said series ofrecord-receiving members to resist and limit movements thereof in adirection substantially perpendicular to said supporting part.

13. Ina record device, a record-supportlng part for malntaining a seriesof recordreceiving members in predetermined arrangement substantiallyparallel to said supporting part, a stop, member for engaging one ofsaid record-receiving members to a limit movement of saidrecord-receiving members in one direction on said supporting part,,means for applying pressure to said series of record-receiving membersto hold said series of record-receiving members against said stopmember, and means on said supporting'part for engaging opposite sides ofsaid stop member to prevent movement of said stop member and maintainsaid stop member in operative position on said record device.

14. In a record device, a record-supporting part for maintaining aseries of recordreceiving members in predetermined arrangementsubstantially parallel to said supporting part, a stopmember forengaging one of said record-receiving members to limit movement of saidrecord-receiving members in one direction on said supporting part, aplate member adapted to cover the record-receiving portion of saidrecord-receiving member, said stop member andsaid plate member beingdetachably mounted on said support, means for applying pressure to holdagainst said stop member, means on said to said series ofrecord-receiving members said record-receiving members supporting partand 'on said plate member for engaging said stop member to maintain saidmember in operative position on said record device.

' 15. In a record device, a record-supporting'part for maintaining aseries of recordreceiving members in predetermined ar rangementsubstantially parallel to said supporting part, a transverse back wallon said supportin part, a stop member for engaging oneoi saidrecord-receiving members to limit ,movement of said record-receivingmembers in one direction, means for applying pressure in the oppositedirection to hold said record-receiving members against said stopmember, and means onsaid supporting part for holding said stop member inengagement with said back wall to maintain said member in operativeposition on said record device. f

16. In a record device, a record-supporting part for maintaining aseries of record receiving members in predetermined arrangementsubstantially parallel to said supporting part, a transverse back wallon said supporting part, a stop member for engaging one of saidrecord-receiving members to limit movement of said record-receivingmembers in one direction, means for applying pressure in theoppositedirection to hold said record-receiving members against said stopmember, a plate adapted to cover the record-receiving portion, of one ofsaid record-receiving members, means on said supporting part for holdingsaid stop member 1n engagement with said back wall, and means on saidplate member adapted to hold said stop member in ento hold 'gagementwith said supporting part whereby said stop member is maintained inoperative position on said record device.

17. In a record device,'a record-supporting part for maintaining aseries of recordreceiving members in predetermined arrangementsubstantially parallel to said supporting part, a transverse back wallon said supporting part, a stop member for engaging one of saidrecord-receiving mem-' bers to.limit movement of said record-receivingmembers in one direction,- means for applying pressure in the oppositedirection said record-receiving members against said stop member, aplate member ;adapted to coverthe record-receiving por tion of one ofsaid record-receiving members, said plate member being detachablymounted on'said supporting part, means on said supporting part forholding said i stop member in engagement with said back wall, and meanson said plate member adapted to hold said stop member in en'- gagementwith said supporting part, whereby said stop member is releasablymaintained on said record device.

18. In a record device, a record-supporting part for maintaining aseries of recordreceiving members in predetermined over lappingrelation, side parts on said supporting parfiadapted to prevent lateralmovements of said series on said supporting part, a detachable platemember adapted to cover the record-receiving portion of .one of saidmembers, said side parts of said device having apertures, and said,plate member having pivot partsadapted to enter said apertures to permitswinging movements of said plate member relatively to saidrecord-receiving members, and detachable means on said device'formaintaining said plate member in its pivotal relation to said apertures.

19. In a record device, a record-supporting part for maintaining aseries of recordreceiving members in predetermined overlapping relation,side parts on said supporting part adapted to prevent lateral movementsof said series on said supporting part, a detachable plate memberadapted to cover the record-receiving portion of one ofsaid members,said side parts of said device having apertures, and said plate memberhaving parts adapted to cooperate with said apertures to permit relativemovements between said plate member and said recordreceiving members,and detachable means on said record device adapted to engage andremovably secure said plate member parts in said relation to saidapertures.

20. In a record device, a record-supporting part for maintaining aseries of recordreceiving members in predetermined overlapping relation,a detachable plate member adapted to cover the record-receiving portionof one ofsaid record-receiving memmagma bers, said plate member havingan attaching part, parts on said record device for receiving saidattaching part, and detachable means having a part adapted to engagesaid plate memberyto maintain said attaching part of said plate inoperative relation to said receiving parts on said record device.

21. In a record device, a record-supportingpart for maintaining a seriesof recordreceiving members in predetermined over lapping relation, adetachable plate member adapted to cover the record-receivingpor tion ofone of said record-receiving members, said plate member having anattaching part, parts on said record device for receiving said attachingpart, detachable means having a .part adapted to engage said platemember to maintain said attaching part of said plate in operativerelation to said receiving parts on said record device, and saiddetachable means being adapted to engage one of said record-receivingmembers to prevent movement of said series in one direction and having apart adapted to overhang said record-receiving member to maintain saidmember against unintentional removal from said supporting part, andmeans for applying pressure to said series of recordreceiving members tohold said members against said detachable means.

22. In a device of the character described, means for supporting aplurality of recordreceiving members in predetermined overlappingrelation, a cover plate adapted to cover the record-receiving portion ofthe uppermost of said record-receiving members, means for detachablymounting said cover plate on said device, said cover plate beinginterchangeable with other cover plates of different lengths so that theuppermost record-receiving memberwill always have its -=record-bearingportion properly covered regardless of the length of said member.

23. In a record device, a record-support ing part for maintaining aseries of recordreceiving members in predetermined overlapping relation,side parts on said device adapted to prevent lateral movements of saidseries on said supporting part, a detachable plate member adapted tocover the record-receiving portion of one of said members, said sideparts of said device having apertures,

and said plate member having pivot parts adapted to enter said aperturesto permit swinging movements of said plate member relatively to saidrecord-receiving members,

relation, said members being adapted to swing to a position whereintheir under faces are exposed, side parts on said device adapt-- ed toprevent lateral movements of said series on said supportingpart, adetachable plate member adapted to cover the recordreceiving portion ofone of said members, said side parts of said device having apertures,and said plate member having pivot parts adapted to enter said aperturesto permit swinging movements of said plate member relative to saidrecord-receiving members, said plate member having a part adapted toslide on one of said record-receiving members to form anti-frictionmeans therebetween when one or more of said recordreceiving members aremoved to expose the under face or faces thereof, and detachable means onsaid device for maintaining said plate member in its pivotal relation tosaid apertures.

25. III a card index tray adapted to support a plurality ofrecord-bearing members in redetermined recumbent arrangement with thebodies of said record-bearing members substantially parallel with thebottom of said tray, a relatively fixed back stop detachably mounted insaid tray and having a part for engaging a portion of one of saidrecordbearing members and retaining said members in the tray when theyare pressed against said back stop, and a movable follower for applyingpressure to said recordbearing members to hold them under compressionagainst said back stop.

JAMES H. RAND, JR. LOUIS C. BROEGKER.

